Mother dived into freezing river to rescue family trapped in sinking car

Jody Owen was being hailed as Supermum yesterday after her heroic actions.

Jody Owen leapt from a bridge, scrambled down an embankment, and crawled through a gap in fencing to reach two stricken youngsters in the back seat of the sinking car.

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The vehicle they were in was almost completely submerged in six feet of freezing water by the time she swam out to them.

Both boys, aged eight and four, were screaming in terror and had been sitting in the back with their family dog.

Their parents, who were in the front, had already freed themselves and were desperately trying to pluck their sons to safety when Jody arrived.

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She said: "I didn't have time to panic, I just felt I had to just get in there.

"There were two adults and two young children all screaming for help, they were terrified.

"I do suffer from panic attacks, especially in high pressure situations, but on this occasion instinct just took over.

"When I got to them they were shaking so I assured them all was going to be OK and held on to them as I got them to the embankment.

"I was exhausted when I got to the other side, as they were. The boys' parents were really tired and were shaking too.

"To be honest I don't consider myself a hero and I'd do it again if I had to, although I wouldn't like it.

"It was only when I got to hospital that I realised what I had done. It was the first time I've swam since school!"

Jody had been driving in Walsall, West Mids, taking three of her children, and two others from a family she child minds for, to school yesterday morning.

Her car, a Toyota people carrier, was in collision with the blue coloured car at a junction just after 8am which sent the vehicle hurtling into the canal.

Paramedics were later called but Jody and the other family only needed minor treatment at Walsall Manor Hospital.

Jody's children; Keeley, 10, and Tara, nine, Connor, five and four-year-old Amy, who were with her at the time of the crash, have now christened her 'Supermum'.

Her father Peter Peakman said: "She rang her mother to say she had been involved in an accident and said she had dived into the canal to save two children in the other car.

"I was obviously very worried when she called but I'm delighted everyone is all right and just very proud of her.

"She was very brave to dive into the water like that especially given how cold it is today. She's a hero."

West Midlands Police are now planning to nominate her for a bravery award.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service added: "Thanks to Jody's brave actions, this family can look forward to enjoying Christmas together.

"It's testament to her that we were not really needed, she had made sure that the two young children required nothing more than a check-up.

"Luckily this story has a happy ending."